CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Boston University, the conference’s perennial power who has taken home four of the last five league crowns, is the preseason favorite to win the 2010 America East Field Hockey Championship. The Terriers garnered four of a possible five first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll as head coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Boston U. finished with 23 points, three ahead of runner-up University at Albany which picked up one first-place vote. University of New Hampshire received the final first-place vote and 17 points to finish third, while the coaches slotted University of Maine fourth with 16 points. Fairfield University and University of Vermont each finished with seven points to round out the six-team poll.
The top seed will host the 2010 America East Field Hockey Championship on November 5-6. The top four teams during the regular season will compete for the tournament title and for the chance to host the Northeast Conference’s champion in an NCAA play-in contest.
The Terriers (10-11 overall record, 4-1 America East record in 2009) are in search of the program’s ninth league title, having won more championships than any other active conference member. Boston U. fell just short of an NCAA bid last season, falling in overtime to NorPac Champion Stanford in a play-in game, and would like another shot at the national tourney. The team’s top two goal scorers were then-freshmen Nicole van Oosterom (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Chilton Saint James School) and Rookie of the Year Jacinda McLeod (Whangarei, New Zealand/Whangarei Girls High School) who combined for 19 goals and 44 points. The Terriers also welcome back three fifth-year seniors, including the 2009 Midfielder of the Year Allie Dolce (Jamestown, R.I./North Kingstown). Dolce led the team in points (28) and assists (12) and the squad will look to her strong play and leadership in the middle of the field.
Albany (13-5, 4-1) earned the top seed for last year’s conference championship, but fell to Boston U. in its bid to win back-to-back titles. The Great Danes’ defense led them to the regular season championship and a national ranking as they recorded 10 shutouts and returning goalkeeper Christine Hoffman (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights), a senior, led the nation in goals-against average (0.44) and save percentage (.889). Hoffman and sophomore Kristi Troch (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton) split time in net all season, which proved to be an effective strategy. Senior Suzy Clephane (Auckland, New Zealand/Bethlehem), the America East Defensive Player of the Year, should continue to be a force on the back line and also a contributor on the penalty corner units. Clephane (four goals, four assists) and junior Christina Patrick (Reading, Pa./Reading Catholic), with six goals, are Albany’s top returning scorers.
Coming off a strong season with wins over two nationally-ranked opponents, New Hampshire (12-7, 3-2) returns many of its core players. The last two America East Offensive Players of the Year have been Wildcats, a pattern New Hampshire would like to continue in 2010. Junior Whitney Frates (Woodstock, Vt./Kimball Union Academy), a first-team all-conference pick, finished fourth in the league last year with 29 points on 10 goals and nine assists, while classmate Hayley Rausch (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) ranked seventh with 23 points on eight goals and seven assists. Junior goalkeeper Katherine Nagengast (Westborough, Mass./Westborough) played every minute in cage last season and returns as a veteran on a squad with 10 newcomers.
Maine (12-7, 3-2) had a potent offense last season which led the conference and ranked sixth nationally with 3.70 goals per game, a trend which should continue into 2010. Former Rookie of the Year and 2009 first-team All-America East forward Kelly Newton (Vancouver, British Columbia/Crofton House), a junior, ranked second in America East with 42 points, 16 goals and 10 assists. Classmate defender Lelia Sacré (North Delta, British Columbia/Syracuse), a valuable member of the penalty corner units, dished out eight assists and was also a member of the America East First Team. Fellow Canadians Maire Dineen (Toronto, Ontario/Michael Power-St. Joseph), a midfielder, and forwards Stephanie Gardiner (Vancouver, British Columbia/Crofton House) and Jocelyn Mitchell (Kanata, Ontario/Earl of March Secondary), all second-team selections, are also dangerous players to watch.
Fairfield (5-12, 1-4) junior Caitlin O’Donnell (Flourtown, Pa./Mount St. Joseph) played most of the goalie minutes for the Stags in 2009 and was among the national leaders in saves (6.40 saves per game). She will return, as will all-rookie midfielder Leah Furey (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Bishop Eustace). Junior Marit Westenberg (Netherlands/Maeriant Lyceum) has totaled double-digit points in each of her first two seasons, striking for six goals last year, and she will need to be the go-to scorer in the absence of graduated senior Carly McCullough.
Vermont (1-17, 0-5) returns seven of its starters from last season’s squad, including junior defender Sarah Becque (Westborough, Mass./Westborough), who led the league with eight defensive saves in 2009. Junior forward Allison Barnaby (Hampton, N.H./Governor Dummer Academy), the team’s top returning scorer, came off the bench last season to record two goals and an assist for five points. Nine newcomers will be in the mix for the Catamounts as they open their season on Saturday, August 28 against Delaware.
2010 Preseason Poll
Rank Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Boston University (4) 23
2. Albany (1) 20
3. New Hampshire (1) 17
4. Maine 16
5t. Fairfield 7
5t. Vermont 7